matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

acronym: MALDI
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.09189
Measurement method in which a time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of mass to charge and the abundance of ions emitted, as a result of a short pulse of laser illumination, from a sample whose analyte is contained in a matrix that assists the formation of ions.
Notes:
  1. The matrix used for assisting the ion emission needs a strong absorbance at the laser wavelength and a low enough mass to sublime. Examples of matrices for \(\pu{337 nm}\) wavelength laser light are 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapinic acid), and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA).
  2. MALDI is used to analyse non-volatile polar biological and organic macromolecules, as well as polymers, to masses of over \(\pu{3000 ku}\).
Source:
PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. (Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)) on page 1788 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.09189 RIS BibTex EndNote
Div. VTextXMLJSON